Olympus SP-100 vs Sony HX5: A Hands-On Comparison of Two Entry-Level Compact Cameras

In the ever-evolving world of compact digital cameras, the Olympus Stylus SP-100 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 stand as intriguing representatives of small sensor cameras with distinct design philosophies, capabilities, and target users. While both cameras debuted several years ago, their specifications, features, and performance still offer valuable lessons - especially for photography enthusiasts contemplating affordable superzoom or compact options.

Having spent extensive hours testing and comparing over a thousand cameras, I’m diving deep into these two models that share some sensor similarities but differ drastically in ergonomics, zoom capabilities, control schemes, and intended shoot scenarios. What makes each stand out, and where do their compromises lie? Let’s unpack their strengths, weaknesses, and best use cases to help you navigate your next purchase with confidence.

The Physical Feel: Ergonomics and Handling Matter

The first impression of any camera comes from its design, weight, and how intuitively it fits in your hands. The Olympus SP-100 is a bridge-style, SLR-like camera with a hefty build, while the Sony HX5 is a compact point-and-shoot. When you hold both, the difference is immediately clear.

At 594 grams and measuring 122mm wide by 91mm tall and 133mm deep, the Olympus SP-100 commands a substantial presence. It boasts a large, comfortable grip and a pronounced electronic viewfinder, shaping it much like a DSLR alternative for users who want extensive zoom without switching lenses.

The Sony HX5, in contrast, is a featherweight at just 200 grams and slender - 102mm x 58mm x 29mm - making it pocketable and light enough for casual carry. This compact size appeals to street photographers or travelers prioritizing portability.

Handling goes beyond dimensions: the SP-100 feels solid and reassuring, built for controlled shooting sessions. Its grip and button placement encourage deliberate framing and manual adjustments, while the HX5’s smooth, rounded body aims for quick snapshots with minimal fuss.

For photographers used to larger cameras, the SP-100’s heft is a welcome anchor during long sessions; however, the HX5 shines in spontaneous, grab-and-go situations.

Design and Control Layout: User Interface in Practice

Next up, let’s consider the top control arrays and overall interface. After all, accessibility and swift parameter changes can differentiate a pleasant shoot from a frustrating one.

The Olympus SP-100 features a dedicated mode dial including shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual modes - an attractive proposition for enthusiasts seeking exposure control. Its buttons don’t light up but are well-spaced, with tactile feedback familiar to DSLR shooters. An electronic viewfinder adds compositional flexibility in bright light.

Conversely, the Sony HX5’s top plate carries minimalist controls, reflecting its compact focus. While it offers manual exposure mode, shutter priority and aperture priority modes are absent, limiting creative exposure control to the Olympus camera. The HX5 instead leans on automation and simple menu navigation, suitable for novices or travelers who want quick results.

The rear LCDs also differ widely in definition and usability, factors critical during framing and reviewing shots.

Screen and Viewfinders: Composing Your Shot

The SP-100 sports a 3.0-inch, 460k-dot TFT LCD, delivering crisp previews and accessible menus. It supplements this with a high-resolution 920k-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF), advantageous in bright sunlight or when you prefer eye-level shooting.

The HX5 offers a similarly sized screen (3.0-inch) but with a considerably lower resolution of 230k dots, resulting in a less detailed preview. Notably, it lacks any viewfinder, forcing reliance on the LCD - a downside for outdoor photographers battling harsh light reflections.

Touch capabilities are absent on both, but the SP-100’s screen noticeably outperforms the HX5’s in visibility and responsiveness, improving confidence in framing and menu navigation.

Sensor and Image Quality: Technical Heart of the Cameras

Both cameras use very similar sensor technologies: backside-illuminated CMOS types with roughly 28 square millimeters sensor area (SP-100 = 28.07 mm²; HX5 = 27.94 mm²). The subtle size edge and more recent design in Olympus’ 16-megapixel sensor suggests potential for better resolution and low-light capture.

Olympus’s sensor resolution peaks at 16MP (4608x3456), whereas Sony’s HX5 has a 10MP sensor (3456x2592). In practical terms, this difference lets the SP-100 produce higher resolution images suitable for moderately large prints or tighter cropping.

Both cameras support ISO sensitivity ranges from 125 to a maximum of 6400 for Olympus and 3200 for Sony. Olympus’s broader ISO ceiling implies an edge in dim conditions, although image noise at higher ISOs on small sensors tends to be a limiting factor regardless.

Crucially, neither camera offers RAW file capture - a limiting factor for exposure latitude and post-processing flexibility. This signals a clear design intent toward casual shooters rather than professionals or advanced enthusiasts who demand raw files.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

AF performance often makes or breaks real-world usability, especially in dynamic shooting scenarios.

Olympus SP-100 employs contrast-detection autofocus with multiple area modes, center-weighted metering, and face detection. Importantly, it supports continuous AF and tracking, crucial for wildlife or sports photography where subjects move unpredictably.

Sony HX5 also uses contrast detection but lacks continuous AF and face detection capabilities. It features 9 focus points but predominantly relies on single AF mode, which can hinder action or spontaneous shooting where quick refocus is vital.

In hands-on testing, the Olympus SP-100 provided smoother AF performance during continuous tracking of moving subjects, with fewer instances of hunting, particularly when paired with good lighting.

Zoom Ranges and Lens Considerations: Reach vs Practicality

Perhaps the most notable difference lies in the zoom capabilities.

The SP-100 boasts a formidable fixed lens with a truly staggering 24-1200mm equivalent focal range - a 50x zoom. This puts it squarely in “superzoom” territory, making it excellent for photographers who want vast reach for wildlife or sports without changing lenses.

The Sony HX5 offers a much more conservative 25-250mm equivalent zoom (10x), which is respectable but pales beside the Olympus’s range. The more modest zoom extends appeal for travel and everyday photography where extreme telephoto is less critical.

A wider lens aperture on the Olympus at the short end (f/2.9 vs f/3.5 on Sony) yields better low-light performance and shallower depth of field, translating to more “bokeh” and subject separation for portraits and detailed close-ups.

Continuous Shooting and Shutter Speeds: Timing Your Shots

When capturing fast moments - sports, wildlife, or action - the burst speed and shutter range matter.

The Olympus SP-100 offers 7 frames per second continuous shooting while the Sony HX5 peaks at 10 frames per second. While the HX5 is faster on paper, the SP-100’s superior autofocus tracking compensates well in action scenarios; speed alone doesn't guarantee sharp shots.

Shutter speeds range from 1/30 to 1/1700 seconds on the Olympus, with a maximum of 1/1600 seconds on the Sony. Neither camera offers electronic or silent shutter options common on modern machines.

Battery Life and Storage: Keeping the Camera Ready

The Olympus uses a rechargeable LI-92B battery pack with an advertised life of 330 shots per charge - average for this class. The Sony relies on the NP-BG1 battery but battery life is unspecified; typical usage yields fewer shots before charging is needed.

Both cameras use single memory card slots supporting SD/SDHC/SDXC (Olympus) or proprietary Memory Stick Duo with optional SD compatibility (Sony). This flexibility affects storage convenience and availability of memory cards.

Video Capabilities: Recording Quality and Features

Both cameras sport Full HD video recording but differ slightly in format and frame rates.

The Olympus SP-100 records 1920x1080 video at 60p or 30p using H.264 codecs, with an external microphone input - a feature appreciated by videographers for better audio control.

Sony HX5 matches 1080p at 60fps but outputs in AVCHD format, though lacks a mic input, limiting sound quality improvements beyond the built-in microphone.

Neither camera supports 4K recording - unsurprising for their production era - but both provide decent HD with respectable frame rates and stabilization for handheld footage.

Specialized Photography: How Do They Perform Across Genres?

Now that the specs are established, here’s how these cameras fare across popular photography disciplines based on hands-on shooting hours and expert evaluation.

Portrait Photography

• Olympus SP-100: The wider aperture at the short end (f/2.9) and 16MP resolution enable more pleasing bokeh and better skin tone rendering in good light. Face detection autofocus supports eye-catching portraits with accurate focus. The electronic viewfinder aids meticulous framing.
• Sony HX5: Limited maximum aperture (f/3.5) and lower resolution constrain shallow depth of field effects. Lack of face detection AF reduces accurate subject focus. Best suited to casual snapshots.

Landscape Photography

• Olympus SP-100: Offers higher resolution and wider dynamic range potential, benefiting from larger sensor area. Fixed lens provides ultra-wide 24mm equivalent coverage for landscapes. No weather sealing, though.
• Sony HX5: Decent wide-angle coverage but fewer megapixels and lower dynamic range expected. Compact size aids portability on hikes or travel but compromises control precision.

Wildlife Photography

• Olympus SP-100: 50x zoom lens is a standout feature here. Combined with continuous AF tracking and good burst rate, capturing distant animals is doable.
• Sony HX5: 10x zoom limits reach, restricting wildlife use mostly to close or tame animals.

Sports Photography

• Olympus SP-100: Manual exposure modes and AF tracking assist in capturing action. Slightly slower burst rate than Sony, but better focus tracking is preferable.
• Sony HX5: Faster burst but single AF mode hampers continuous focus on fast-moving subjects.

Street Photography

• Olympus SP-100: Bulky size and loud zoom operation reduce discretion. Yet EVF aids shooting in bright conditions.
• Sony HX5: Small footprint excels in unobtrusive shooting. Quieter operation makes it ideal for candid moments.

Macro Photography

• Olympus SP-100: Exceptional 1cm minimum focusing distance allows highly detailed close-ups, further aided by optical image stabilization.
• Sony HX5: Minimum macro focusing distance of 5cm limits super close macro work.

Night and Astro Photography

• Olympus SP-100: Higher effective ISO ceiling and manual controls allow longer exposures, though sensor noise and lens aperture limit astrophotography ambitions.
• Sony HX5: Lower max ISO and lack of manual shutter priority obstruct night shooting potential.

Video Shooting

• Olympus SP-100: 1080p at 60p with external mic support, plus optical stabilization, is a boon for vloggers and casual filmmakers.
• Sony HX5: Similar video resolution but no mic port and lower screen resolution lessens monitoring ease.

Travel Photography

• Olympus SP-100: Versatile zoom and good battery life make it a travel companion, though bulk limits portability.
• Sony HX5: Highly pocketable with good battery and basic zoom, ideal for travelers prioritizing convenience over zoom reach.

Professional Work

• Neither camera supports RAW format, and environmental sealing is absent, limiting professional reliability and post-processing flexibility.

Reliability, Connectivity, and Storage

Neither camera features weather sealing or ruggedization - a compromise for their price points and sensor sizes. Wireless connectivity is limited: Olympus offers optional wireless, Sony includes built-in GPS for geotagging, aiding travel shoots.

Both use USB 2.0 and HDMI for data transfer and output. The Olympus’s optional wireless adapter could appeal to those integrating their workflow with mobile sharing, but by today's standards, both cameras lack modern connectivity conveniences like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Practical Summary with Visual Support

To crystallize these comparisons visually:

Olympus SP 100 front Olympus SP 100 screen back Sony HX5 front Sony HX5 screen back

Final Verdict: Which Camera Suits Your Needs?

When to Choose Olympus SP-100

• You value an ultra-long zoom (24-1200mm) for wildlife or distant subjects.
• Manual exposure control and continuous AF tracking are essential.
• You prefer having an electronic viewfinder for bright-light composing.
• Higher resolution and wider dynamic range are desired.
• Battery longevity and external microphone support for video matter.

The SP-100 combines enthusiast-level controls with zoom versatility, making it suitable for hobbyists moving beyond point-and-shoots, wildlife photographers on a budget, and travel photographers wanting zoom flexibility over compact size.

When to Choose Sony HX5

• You need an ultra-lightweight, pocketable camera with simple operations.
• Portability trumps zoom range; you mainly shoot close or everyday subjects.
• Burst shooting speed for fast snap shooting is a priority.
• Geotagging with built-in GPS is desired for travel journaling.
• Price sensitivity and ease-of-use rank higher over advanced features.

The HX5 is a capable travel compact for casual users wanting good image quality without the bulk or complexity of bridge cameras.

Honest Assessments: Strengths and Weaknesses at a Glance

Wrapping Up

Both the Olympus SP-100 and Sony HX5 carved out their niche in the early 2010s compact camera market, but their divergent designs mean they cater to very different photographers.

For anyone wanting a versatile superzoom bridge camera with manual control and a bright EVF, the Olympus SP-100 remains compelling. It holds up as an affordable, all-around camera for hobbyist wildlife, sports, and landscape photography.

On the other hand, the Sony HX5’s compact size, quick burst rate, and GPS make it a superb travel buddy and street camera for casual shooters prioritizing portability over reach or control.

If you are browsing current markets, both cameras show their age in connectivity and sensor tech. Yet, understanding their strengths and limitations through firsthand appraisal of handling and image quality can guide you better when looking at their modern successors or deciding if a small sensor superzoom or compact suits a particular photographic pursuit.

Happy shooting - whichever model you pick!

For those eager to dive deeper into performance benchmarks and sample images, check out the accompanying visual comparisons above.